Noble Hops: The Beer Styles Quiz

Beer drinkers are a loyal bunch, often ordering the same brew each time they sit at the bar without a second thought. If you haven’t looked beyond your "usual" in a while, it might be time to consider some of the many different beer styles at your disposal. Think you know all there is to know about your favorite beers? Crack open a cold one and take our quiz to find out! (Image: Fumiaki Yamazaki/The Image Bank/Getty Images)

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Question 1 of 20

Which of the following is the most important criteria when distinguishing between ales and lagers?

type of yeast

All beer can be classified as either an ale or lager depending on the type of yeast used to make it. Top-fermenting yeasts are used to make ales, while lagers are crafted at cooler temperatures using bottom-fermenting yeasts.

where it's made

number of additives

Question 2 of 20

Which is older -- ales or lagers?

ales

Ales pre-date lagers by about 5,000 to 6,000 years. While ancient people may have indulged in an ale or two, it wasn't until the 15th century that brewers found the right yeast to produce lagers.

lagers

Question 3 of 20

Virtually all of the best-selling beers in the U.S. fall into this category.

adjunct lager

American adjunct lagers -- lighter beers made with corn and rice instead of more traditional grains -- outsell other styles of beer by a large margin.

imperial

pale ale

Question 4 of 20

How much of the world's beer is made in the pilsner style?

20 percent

50 percent

90 percent

A whopping 90 percent of the world's beer fits into the pilsner category. This crisp, easy-drinking beer, known for its clear golden hue, also serves as the inspiration for most of the biggest beers in the U.S.

Question 5 of 20

Before focusing on his famous stout, Arthur Guinness produced this style of beer.

pale ale

porter

Guinness got his start making porter, a style of dark beer popular with transportation workers during the 18th century.

pilsner

Question 6 of 20

Forget the mass-market stuff. What's the best-selling craft beer in the U.S.?

IPA

Though it was first brewed in the 1800s, it wasn't until the late 20th and early 21st centuries that IPA took off in the U.S., ranking as the top-selling craft beer in the country by 2013.

stout

pilsner

Question 7 of 20

Which term describes an extra-strong beer designed for export?

imperial

The terms imperial or double before the name of a beer indicate that the product is high in both hops and alcohol. When these products were first created, they needed to be made extra strong -- the added hops serving as a preservative of sorts -- to survive the voyage overseas.

adjunct

steam beer

Question 8 of 20

What does the prefix "hefe" mean when referring to Hefeweizen beers?

half

malted

with yeast

Hefeweizen is German for wheat beer made "with yeast." It's left unfiltered, giving it a murky appearance. When filtered, the Germans call this same beer Kristallweizen.

Question 9 of 20

Which of the following beer styles is known for its nutty, malty flavor and coppery brown coloring?

pale ale

malt liquor

brown ale

Brown ale features shades of coffee and chocolate, with a dominate malty nuttiness. Originally made in Europe, the American brown ale tends to be slightly more bitter than the British or German varieties.

Question 10 of 20

What is another name for Oktoberfest beer?

marzen

During the 16th century, brewers couldn't safely make beer during the hot summer months. Instead they stocked up in March, or Marzen, crafting strong beers that would last until the cool weather returned -- right around the time of Oktoberfest.

pilsner

IPA

Question 11 of 20

Just as Marzen is traditionally brewed in the spring, this strong German beer was typically brewed in the fall.

pilsner

bock

Germans typically began brewing Bock, a powerful, malty beer, right after Oktoberfest to stock up for the long, cold winter ahead.

stout

Question 12 of 20

This deeply colored beer is largely just a form of porter made with less water to create a bolder taste.

pilsner

brown ale

stout

The term stout once referred only to the strongest beers produced by a brewery, but now refers to a variety of dark, rich beer varieties.

Question 13 of 20

British brewers added whole hops after brewing was complete, a process known as dry hopping, to help this brew survive the voyage from England to India in the 19th century.

IPA

Dry hopping gave Indian Pale Ale the added kick needed to maintain its flavor during the long trek around the globe to buyers in India in the 1800s.

brown ale

pilsner

Question 14 of 20

Which of the following beer styles originated in California?

steam beer

Steam beer, or California Common, was developed in the 19th century. Before the widespread use of refrigeration, brewers used a high level of carbonation to safely craft lager for the state's growing mining communities.

imperial

stout

Question 15 of 20

What term do the Belgians use to describe their version of the German Hefeweizen?

pilsner

Wijn

Wit

The Germans may have invented wheat beer, but the Dutch revived it with their Wit style, enhanced with citrus, coriander and other herbs. In the U.S., this beer is often served with a lemon wedge to cut the strong wheat flavor.

Question 16 of 20

What two beers traditionally make up a Black and Tan?

Harp and Pale Ale

Guinness and Pilsner

Guinness and Harp

A glass of Guinness and Harp -- with the Guinness on top, of course -- serves as the traditional Black and Tan, though some drinkers replace the Harp with Bass or some other ale.

Question 17 of 20

Which of the following is NOT considered one of the four core ingredients used to make beer?

malt

rice

Any ingredients other than water, malt, hops and yeast are considered adjuncts -- non-core ingredients -- in the beer-making world. Adjuncts may include the corn and rice used in many U.S. beers or specialty ingredients like honey, oats or herbs.

hops

Question 18 of 20

What name is used to describe the highly aromatic specialty hops used to make beer with low bitterness and plenty of rich flavor?

wet hops

herbal hops

noble hops

Like the grape varietals used to make wine, different types of hops can be used to craft different styles of beer. Noble hops, known for their low bitterness, are loaded with essential oils that add layers of fruity flavor to beer.

Question 19 of 20

What beer-making ingredient is largely eliminated when making malt liquor?

hops

Manufacturers create malt liquor by limiting hops and loading vats with plenty of adjuncts, like rice, corn and refined yeast.

malt

water

Question 20 of 20

Where did Pilsner originate?

Czech Republic

Frustrated by poor-quality beer, the people of Plzen in the Czech Republic decided to start their own city-owned beer company in 1842. The company, Pilsner Urquell, produced a clear, golden lager, one of the first golden lagers in the world. This bitter, hoppy blend is still made in the same spot using the same recipe to this day.